| In the October, 2008 issue of the American | | | | effect for beer, liquor, or white wine was |
| Association for Cancer research journal Cancer | | | | observed. |
| Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention¸ | | | | "An antioxidant component in red wine may be |
| California Kaiser Permanente researchers report | | | | protective of lung cancer, particularly among |
| yet another benefit associated with drinking red | | | | smokers," Dr Chao stated. "Red wine is known to |
| wine: a lower risk of lung cancer. | | | | contain high levels of antioxidants. There is a |
| Chun Chao, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente's | | | | compound called resveratrol that is very rich in |
| Department of Research and Evaluation in | | | | red wine because it is derived from the grape |
| Pasadena, California, and colleagues analyzed data | | | | skin. This compound has shown significant health |
| from the California Men's Health Study of 84,170 | | | | benefits in preclinical studies." |
| men aged 45 to 69. Surveys completed between | | | | Although white wine also contains beneficial |
| 2000 and 2003 provided information concerning | | | | phytochemicals, their level and activity are much |
| demographics and lifestyle characteristics, including | | | | lower compared with those found in red wine. |
| type and frequency of alcoholic beverage | | | | The authors observe that resveratrol, found in |
| consumption. Over the three year period, 210 | | | | red wine, red grapes, and other plants, has been |
| cases of lung cancer were identified. | | | | shown to alter the activation of carcinogenic |
| Among men who reported ever having smoked, | | | | substances in human lung cell cultures, induce |
| drinking one or more glasses of red wine per day | | | | programmed cell death in human lung cancer cell |
| was associated with a 61 percent lower adjusted | | | | lines, and slow lung tumor growth in experiments |
| risk of lung cancer compared to the risk | | | | with mice. |
| experienced by those who did not consume red | | | | "This finding, if confirmed is of interest for lung |
| wine. For each glass of red wine consumed per | | | | cancer chemoprevention in current and former |
| month, a 2 percent reduction in lung cancer risk | | | | smokers," the authors write. They emphasize that |
| was noted among those who had ever smoked, | | | | not smoking is still the best way to avoid lung |
| and for those who reported having been heavy | | | | cancer, and that heavy alcohol consumption is not |
| smokers, a 4 percent reduction was observed. No | | | | recommended. |